Operation Cartwheel

Operation Cartwheel was a major offensive operation in the South Pacific which was executed from 30 June 1943 to 20 March 1944 by the Allied Powers. Masterminded by General Douglas MacArthur, the goal of the campaign was to secure the Solomon Islands and other Japanese island bases in the region to allow the Allies to take over New Guinea; from there, the Allies could take over the Philippines and drive a wedge between the Japanese  home islands and their new conquests. The plan was amended by US command, which decided to bypass Rabaul on New Britain, Kavieng on New Ireland, and Kolombangara in favor of taking over the smaller Japanese islands; Woodlark Island and Kiriwina fell on 30 June 1943, New Georgia, Rendova, Bairoko, and Arundel Island in the summer of 1943, Vella Lavella on 15 August 1943, Lae on 5 September 1943, the Treasury Islands on 27 October 1943, Choiseul Island on 28 October 1943, Bougainville on 1 November 1943, Arawe, Cape Gloucester, and Saidor from 15 December 1943 to 2 January 1944, the Admiralty Islands on 29 February 1944, and Emirau Island on 20 March 1944. The operation severed Japanese supply lines and communication lines, weakening the Japanese war effort and cutting off the Japanese army in New Guinea.